Motion-picture apparatus



Nov. 10, 1925.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOI? R. P. DE VAU LT MOTION PICTURE APPARATUSFiled July 18, 1922 ATTdRA Ey Nov. 10, 1925. 1,561,060 R. P. DE VAULT IMOTION PICTURE APPARATUS I Filed July 18, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2lI|III!llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllIIIWITNESSES. IN|/ENTOR fiw Kai W Nov. 10,1925- 1.561.060

R. P. DE VAULT- IIOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 3 mmssss;

f v A TTOBNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH IULLEAM DE VAULT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 HARLEY I4.CLARKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS.

Application filed July 18, 1922. Serial No. 575,794.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH P. DE VAULT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Motion-Picture Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in motion picture apparatus.

In moving picture apparatus of the intermittently moving film class itis customary to cut off the light during the movement of the film andthis interruption of the light is the cause of the objectionableflicker. To reduce the flick-er it is customary to provide the shutterwith other interrupting portions causing further interruptions of thelight while the film is at rest and while this reduces the pronouncedflicker it also reduces the illumination on the screen, the averagemachine allowing about fifty per cent of the light minus the density ofthe film to reach the screen.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide in a motion picture apparatus an improved film drivingmeans whereby the time of changing pictures is reduced, reducin theperiod of darkness so that it is practica 1y imperceptible and thereforeit is not necessary to introduce other periods of darkness orinterruptions.

Second, to provide an improved motion picture apparatus utilizing alarge percentage of the illumination.

Third, to provide in amotion picture apparatus an improved film drivingmeans having these advantages which is very economical and durable instructure.

Further objects, and objectsrelating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a detail view mainly in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 1-1 of Figs. II, III and V.

Fig. II is a detail side elevation, parts being shown in dotted lines tobetter illustrate the manipulation thereof.

Fig. III is a detail view looking from the right of Fig. I with the capor side plate of the gear box remove-d.

Fig. IV is a detail section through the film sprockets, feed and guiderollers on a line corresponding to line ll of Fig. I.

Fig. V is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. I.

Fig. VI is a detail view similar to that of Fig. V with parts removed.

Fig. VII is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 7--7 ofFig. VIII showing details of the feed and guide roller supports.

Fig. VIII is a detail section on a line .corresponding to line 88 ofFig. VII.

Fig. IX is a side view of one of the star.

gear wheels.

Fig. X is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line101O of Fig. I through one of the film sprockets and one of the feedrollers. v

Fig. XI is a perspective view of the Geneva stop movement drivingmember.

Fig. XII is a perspective view of the film aperture gate.

Fig. XIII is a vertical section on a line corresponding to line 1313 ofFig. XII.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the frame of amoving picturemachine, 2 the gear box or housing mounted thereon and 3 the lens box orcasing. Details of the shutter are not illustrated as they form no partof this invention.

The film aperture gate 4 is arranged at the rear of the lens box. Thefilm casing and support are not illustrated as such parts form no partof this invention.

I provide a pair of film sprockets 5 and 6, the sprocket 5 beingdisposed above and the sprocket 6 being disposed below the aperture gateor framing device 4. These sprockets have teeth 7 to engage perforationsin the films of well-known type. The spindles 8 for the film sprocketsare carried by the bearings 9 mounted on the gem box 2.

I provide film pressure rollers 10 which coact with thefilm sprockets,and are each provided"with the annular flanges 10 on each end adapted tooverlap the endsofthe sprockets The rollers 10"211'8'11'1OI1I1-il6d-TSOas to coact with the film rollers at the Outer sides thereof. Theserollersare mounted on swinging arms 11 pivoted at 12. "Guide rollers 13are also mounted on these swinging arms to engage the film as it passesfrom the sprocket and to the sprocket 6 guiding i't'to the aperturegate, as'shown in Fig. IV, and also holding "the film to the :film'sprockets so that there is substantial 'p'erpi'h'erical contact -o'f thefilm 'withj'the sprockets in suring the simultaneous engagementofsever'al'of'the'pins of each roller with the film "film passes. gateso as .to'allow a free movement of the 'film without any brak ng orgrippingaction apertures. The printing device or gate is provided with aplate 4 under which the This plate is spaced from the thereon andprev'entsffl'uttering of the'film. Between the guide roll'ers'the filmis free from braking friction, it being a rather "common 'expe'dient'toprevent overthrow of the film by braking friction atthispoi nt.

Springs 14 hold'the rollers yiel'dingly downward, adjustable stops'15beingprovided "for the rollers. The film sprockets are preferablymade upof a spool16 of-ihard rubb'er fitted upon the spi'n' dleand secured-thereon by the screw 1 7,"a barrel '18 of aluminum havin fihn engagingteeth, and ,a facing or covering 19 of suitable fabric.

The;pressure rollers 10 are similarly constructed having peripheralgrooves 20 therein to accommodate the teeth or the sprock ets. Thisconstruction is of' advantage 'in that the rollers are light and at the"same 'time'suflicientfly strong for the purpose.

"The-spindles 'are provided with driven "Geneva' gea'rs'or' star wheels21 havin radial-slots 22 therein having outwar ly'fdiverging-surfaces 23at the entrance thereof. The driving member 24 ofthe Geneva y th ring 26at the inner side of'th housing and by a 'bridge27 at the outer sideof'the housing, the outerside offlthe' The'shaft of the driving membenisprovided with a beveled gear 30 with which a gear31 on the shaft 32meshes. "-Thisshaft 32 is provided with a pinion 33 "meshing with thelarge gear 34-. on the power shaft. 35,-c'rank'or other means beingprovided for driving the shaft-35.

-The Geneva movement 24 is'disposedbetweeuthe star gears'21 and'isprovided with -"oppositely' disposed and oppositely projecting pins 36coacting therewith, YThe star Wheels have concave surfaces87 being ofthe star wheels. faces .23 :of the ;slots permit .the pins to enterwell-into the slotsbefore coming 1ndriving member.

tween the slots thereof with which the lockingoam's 38 coact. The camshave recesses 39 opposite the pins permitting the turn The divergingsurterially: reduced, The. time of actuation in the-structureillustrated is about one-twelfth of the time of complete rotation :ofthe I Ethus reduce the period of'operation to such'an extent thatitheperiod of darkness or interruption is such asto "be'unobje'ctionable andtherefore it is not necessary to provide for or introduce other periodsof Ldarkness or interruption while the film'is at rest.This-greatlyincreases the efliciency of the light and I have succeededin utilizingabout ninety per cent, which result is "greatly in excess of'what has been heretofore accomplished.

I am able to eliminate *thefriction usually provided to check the *filmwhere a single sprocket 'fee'd'is provided and "thus relieve the filmofthe strains'of 't-he extra speed in the intermittent feed. 'Iaccomplish these objects in a "verywsi-mple and effective manner andsecure the increased speed without increasing the speedof-the drivingmember.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodimentwhielrI have found verysatis'factory and practical. I have not attemptedto} illustrate or describe certain modifications or-adaptationswwhich Icontemplate as I 'believe the disclosure made willwenable those skilledin the-art to-which my invention relates to embody or adapt thesame-.as-may be desired.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, WvhatI-claim as new-and movement is mounted on the shaft 25' carried desireto secure by Letters Patent is liIn' a device of "the, characterdescribed, a roller comprising a spindle, a harda-ubber spool carriedthereby, an-aluminum casing secured about and spaced from said spindle.

2".In a device of the character described, a roller: comprising aspindle, aha rd rubber spool carriedthereby, and v a casing securedabout and spaced from said-spindle.

3. In a. device'of thecharacterdescribed, a roller comprising a spindle,a non-metallic drum carried thereby, and a metallic casing encompassingsaid drum and spaced from the medial portion thereof.

4. In a device of thecharacter-described, in combination, a spindle, anon-metallic spool carriedithereby, and a relatively thin metallic.casing secured- :about-said ;;spool and spaced from the 'me'dialport-i-on thereof.

5. In a device of thecharacter described, in combination, a spindle, anon-metallic spool carried thereby, and a relatively thin metalliccasing secured about said spool and spaced from said spindle.

6. In a device of the character described, a roller comprising aspindle, a hard rubber spool carried thereby, an aluminum casing securedabout and spaced from said spindle, and a plurality of radial teeth onsaid casmg.

7. In a device of the character described, a roller comprising aspindle, a hard rubber spool carried thereby, and a casing secured aboutand spaced from said spindle, and provided With a plurality of radialteeth.

8. In a device of the character described, a roller comprising aspindle, a hard rubber spool carried thereby, and a casing having aplurality of radial teeth and secured about 20 and spaced from saidspindle.

RALPH PULLEAM DE VAULT.

